Effect of rare-earth component of the RE/Ni catalyst on the formation and nanostructure of single-walled carbon nanotubes

A systematic experimental study has been carried out on the efficiency of bimetallic catalysts based on Ni and the rare-earth elements Y, La, Ce, Nd, Gd, Tb, Dy, Ho, Er, and Lu ( group A) and Eu, Sm, Yb, and Tm ( group B) in the synthesis of single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs). The two groups give quite different results when analyzed by a combination of SEM/TEM and Raman and UV-NIR spectroscopies. The elements in group A have an obvious catalytic effect and increase the yield of SWNTs dramatically, whereas those in group B are not efficient catalysts. The diameter distribution of the synthesized SWNTs was also affected by the rare-earth element used. For group A metals, there is a tendency that the fraction of small-diameter tubes decreases with decreasing ionic radius of the rare-earth element used. EDX and X-ray analyses indicate that group A metals deposit on the cathode deposits and form rare-earth carbides, whereas no group B metals are found in cathode deposits, except for a small amount of Tm present in the form of thulium carbide. Further analysis indicates that there is a very strong correlation between the ability to form rare-earth carbides and the catalytic efficiency for the formation of SWNTs.

Liu, Bingbing (författare)
Zou, Yonggang (författare)
Wang, Lin (författare)
Cui, Tian (författare)
Zou, Guangtian (författare)
Li, Jixue (författare)
Sundqvist, BertilUmeå universitet,Institutionen för fysik(Swepub:umu)besu0001 (författare)
Umeå universitetInstitutionen för fysik (creator_code:org_t)

Ingår i:Journal of Physical Chemistry B: American Chemical Society (ACS)110:31, s. 15284-152901520-61061520-5207

Av författaren/redakt...: Yao, Mingguang; Liu, Bingbing; Zou, Yonggang; Wang, Lin; Cui, Tian; Zou, Guangtian; visa fler...; Li, Jixue; Sundqvist, Berti ...; visa färre...

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